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Jack Parker - Bookseller Extraordinaire

Jack passed away peacefully recently after a short decline in health at the age of 82, his history with bookselling both to the public and to schools is long, beginning with Whitcoulls at age 15 in 1950.

After many years with the company in management positions including a five year stint in London managing the Whitcoulls UK office Jack went out on his own in 1974 starting the first of many retail shops, the first in Upper Hutt called "Parkers Bookworld", right from the beginning Jack was a regular supplier to local school libraries and then later on with his on approval service to schools nationwide.

Many librarians will know his more recent company "Jay Books" a speciality school library supply company. As Jacks son I worked with him over many years in Jay Books before starting my own company Southern Sky Books in 1999, and witnessed his dedication to providing the best service he could to his many librarians throughout the country, always a hard worker he painstakingly selected selections of books to be sent out on approval always being mindful not to send the same book twice and using notes he kept for each customer regarding preferences etc.

My mother Ann worked alongside Jack since they opened their first shop in Upper Hutt and was an integral part of the businesses, she now resides in care in Upper Hutt.